James Franklin Hunt

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James Franklin Hunt

September 28, 1934 ~ October 3, 2020

James Franklin Hunt, 86, passed away on October 3, 2020 in Salt Lake City. He died peacefully of causes incident to age.

Jim was born September 28, 1934 in Jefferson, Iowa, to Clarence Francis Hunt and Marie Vogel Hunt. He was the youngest of three children. He graduated from Jefferson High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business from Iowa State University in 1957.

He met his lifetime love Carla Urchek in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was teaching high school and Jim was starting his career at Reliance Electric Company in industrial sales. They were married June 25, 1960 in St. Robert Catholic Church in Cortland, Ohio. They were wed for 40 years and raised three sons, Jeff, Tom and David. In 2001, illness took Carla from us much too early, and left a hole in Jim’s heart that never fully healed.

Jim fell in love with the West after spending a college summer session in Boulder, Colorado.  In 1972, the Reliance regional manager’s job opened up in Utah. The family moved to their mountain-top home in Summit Park, where Jim and Carla spent the most wonderful years of their lives, forming lifelong friendships with many old-time Park City families and St. Mary’s parishioners.

Jim retired from Reliance Electric Company (later acquired by Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation) in 1997, after 40 years of service.

  Jim had a big heart, loved his family, and took care of us. He spoiled his grandchildren with “unlimited treats” at the movies.  His signature farewell was “Peace and love!”

Jim is survived by his three sons Jeffrey (Cindy) of Salt Lake City, Thomas (Linda) of San Francisco and David (Lisa) of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; six grandchildren Madison, Christopher, Tess, Amelie, Audrey and Ellen; and a sister, Kathleen (Carlton) Peterson of Richardson, Texas.  He was preceded in death by his wife Carla, sister Therese Beusch and brother-in-law and lifelong partner-in-crime Charles “Chuck” Beusch.

A funeral Mass was celebrated October 23, 2020 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, followed by internment at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Due to COVID and pandemic conditions, the funeral Mass and internment were limited to family only. Jim would not want anyone to get sick on his account.

Rest easy, Pops. Peace and love.